Operating handle adapter



April 1956 J. c. BRUMFIELD 2,741,684

OPERATING HANDLE ADAPTER Filed Sept. 10, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 10, 1956 .1. c. BRUMFIELD OPERATING HANDLE ADAPTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1952 IN VEN TOR. \/a/m 6. Zeal/Wei oarmvmR em m WWW -wmmm WMMN April 10, 1956 .1. c. BRUMFIELD 2,741,684

OPERATING HANDLE ADAPTER Filed Sept. 10, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0AM w 3m April 10, 1956 Filed Sept. 10, 1952 E1: LE 7 J.C.BRUMHELD OPERATING HANDLE ADAPTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 1956 J. c. BRUMFIELD 2,741,684

OPERATING HANDLE ADAPTER Filed Sept. 10, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR. o Al 6' Eez/MF/a 0 arm 301 United States Patent 2,741,634 ornnarnso HANDLE AnArrnn 4 claims. (ct. 299 172) This invention relates to a closing handle adapter and more particularly is directed to" an adapter for circuit breakers to convert rotational motion into straight line movement. r vast majority of small circuit breakers are constructed in such a mannerthat the movement of the-opcrating handle which accomplishes resetting and closing of the contacts, is straight line motion.

"Circuit breakers of this type will have four positions of the handle, an off position, a reset position, an -'on position and a trip position, all of which are in-straight linemovement of the handle. e In commercial applications, it is frequently desirable to mountthe' small breakers in anenclo'sure housing. These'enclosure housings are usually manufactured so that they may be adapted to house various typesofcircuit protective equipment such as'switche's, circuit breakers, starters, etc; Furthermore, such enclosure-housings "are usually adapted 'with handle means which have'rotational movement.

"Accordingly, small type circuit breakers'which are controlled by straight line movement of =theopera'ting handlemust be provided-with adapter means to enable the rotary handle of the enclosureto imparfistfaight line movement to the circuit'breaker handle."

'With" the adapter of my invention-,it is possible to houseand control a standard'type 'cireuitbrealkrinia standard type enclosure.

"The primary object of my invention is to provide means which will translate the rotary'motion into linear In... ,ls Another object of my invention is to provide adapter means to enable a standard circuit breaker-to be 'lroused in a standard type enclosure contaihihg'a rotarytype g f r .7 5. A still further object of my invention is to provide adapter means which will prevent'thebpening of'" the enclosure door when the circuitbreakerand'dts handle are in the onQtripbr off position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means to be attached to a circuit breaker which 'isto be hou sed in an enclosure containing a 'rotary'handle which permits the enclosure door to be opened when "the control handle is moved to the reset position.

Another object of my invention is to provide adapter means 'to be used in conjunction-with-an escdtcheon switch plate so that the switch is latched to the adapter means in'the on or 'trip position ofthe handle but is released from latch'position in the es and reset-positions of'the handle. 7 A still further object of my invention is to provide adapter'means for circuit breakers which are t6 be housed in a standard enclosure which can be unlatched from' the handle when the defeater means of the'rotary handle is operated. t These and other objects of my invention will be appareat-from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

' dual purpose.

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Figure 1 represents a cross-sectional view of the rotary arm of the adapter means. i

' andle'showing' itsinterior latched with the operating Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an enclosure rotary handle showing the position of the interior parts when the mechanismis in the latched and locked position.

F ig i1 re 3 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary handle for an enclosure cover showing the position of the interior parts when they are in an unlatched position.

Figured is'a bottom view of the moulded portion of the rotary switch showing the detent and recesses to rEeeiv'e'th interior operating parts of the handle. Sis'an' exploded-view of the moulded handle and associated interior parts of a handle which may be usedwith my invention. V

giggle 5a' is a'topview of the escutcheon plate used to "control the movement of the interior parts "of'tlie rotary handle.

Figur "5 b"is a top view of a retainer plate which holds the'infefior parts of the rotary switch in proper position. Figure-5c is an end view of the latch retainer'means fOfIhfOtQlY switch. i w Figure dis a perspective view of the adapter means mounted on a circuit breaker with the enclosure'door in the open position.-

Figure '7 is a front View of the operating plate of the adapter means.

' figure 8a is a front-view of the operating arm of the v are 8}." is adapter means. I

Figure 9a: is a front view of the support bracket of the adapter means. Figiir'e 9b'is a side view of the; support bracket of the adaptermeans. s I i 1 Figure 9c is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 9c-9'c-of Figure9a. 1 Y W Figure 10a is a front view of the enclosure housing withthe'enclosure door in the closed position.

Figure 10b isa front view of the enclosure housing with theenclosure door thereof open showing the position in the small circuit breaker with the adapter means thereon. Y The adapter means by which the rotational movement of the operating handle 51 is translated into straight line motion fas best illustrated in the perspective view of bracket 10 is U-shaped member having an ear-11 extending from one leg 49 thereof. The ear-"1 1 is'provided with two openings 12 and 13 to enable the support-bracket to be attachedto the small circuit breaker 14.-

. The lower leg 15 has a groove 16 cut therein to thereby form two extending ears 17 and 18. As will hereinafter he more fully explained, the ears 17 and -18servea Theseears will be positioned in the groove 19 of the small circuit breaker 14 so that when the supportbracketltl isattached by'means of screws 20-and 2 1'extending' through openings 12'and 13, theextension ears 18 and 17 will be properly'seated in the handle groove 1 9. Thus, by this means, support bracket 10- is ;-rigidly secured to the circuit breaker 14 and is prevented from --movernent with respectthereto; The cars '17 and 19 alsoserve as a guide for extension 41 of the operating plate 37 as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

The support bracket 10 has a pin 2; riveted to the base thereof. The reduced cross-sectional area 24 of the riveted pin 23en ables the operating arm 35 to be rothat of the direction of the member 29.

tatably mounted'on the support bracket by means of a washer cotter pin 23'.

As best seen in Figure 6 and 7, the'operating arrn25 has a bell crank member having extensions- 26"and 27.f

A hole or groove 28 is located in the center thereof to enable the operating arm 25 to'be rotatably mounted on the riveted pin'23 of the support bracket 10.

Extension member 29 is an integral part of the operating arm 25 formed by, the bendrat 29 to enable extended portion 29'to lie in a perpendicular plane to the rigidly attached to the extending arm 27 of the operating.

arm 25. 'The pin 32 is perpendicular to the plane of the operating arm 25 and "extends in a direction opposite to The operating plate 37, as bestseen in Figures j6gancl 7, has an extending portion 38 in which a receiving hole 39 is located. The reduced cross-sectional area 33of the operating arm pin 32 is placed in a receiving hole 39 of the operating plate 37 and,by means of a washer cotter pin connection, the plate 37 is rotatably mountedon the arm 25. As best seen in Figure 6, the operating 'plate 37 will be partially positioned withinjthe farea enclosed by the legs 15, 39 and 40 of the support bracket '10-; I The extending member 41 of the plate'37 will be positioned between the cars 17 and 18 of the support bracket 10 to thereby restrict its transverse motion. Itwill be further noted that since ears 17 and 18 are lodged in he groove 19 of the circuit breaker 14 so that theiextending 7 "armf'41isfurther restricted from lateral movement due to the circuit breaker 14 being on one side and the surface 42 of the member being on the other side.

Thus, it will be apparent that even though'the upper portion '38 of the operating plate 37 may have rotational movement, the guide means17, 42, 18 and a portion of the circuit breaker 14 will restrict the motion of the extending arm 41 to substantially straight line motion.

The middle portion 42 of the operating plate 37 is provided with a substantial rectangular opening 43 so that the length of the pin 32 will determine the parallel placement of the operating arm 37 with respect to the circuit breaker 14. 7

' Thus, the pin 32 is made sufiiciently long so that the opening 43 of the operating plate 37 will surround the operating handle 22 of the circuit breaker 14 when the adapter is placed thereon. The control of the operating arm will be transmitted through the member 29 of the operating plate 25, which in turn will result in movement of the operating plate 37.

Since the circuit breaker handle 22 is located within the 'opening 43 of the operating plate 37, the movement of this plate will result in the movement of the operating handle 22. 1

As will hereinafter be more fully explained, the rotational operating handle located on the enclosure door will latch with the groove of the operating arm CX? tension 29 and cause rotational movement of this arm.

Thus, although the extension 38 will have rotational motion imparted thereto by operating arm 25, the guide members 17 and 18 surrounding the operating plate extension 41 will restrict this member to substantially straight linemotion and thus, the opening 43 of the operating plate 37 will likewise have substantial straight line motion.

Accordingly, it should now be apparent that by means of the support bracket 10, the operating arm 25 and the operating plate 37, that the rotational movement of the enclosure operating handle can be transferred to the operatingplate so that motion is transferred into straight line motion.

' house spring 63.

The circuit breaker 14, with an adapter attached thereto, is placed in the housing 50, as seen in Figure 10b. A standard handle, having rotational movement, is illustrated by 51 in Figure 10a. This handle 51 has rotational movement which my inventionwill translate into straight line motion to thereby enable control of the circuit breaker 14 from handle 51 when the enclosure door 52 is closed, as seen in Figure 10a.

The handle 51 with which my present invention may be used will be described to illustrate how it operates and coordinates with the adapter of my invention.

The handle 51 has a moulded portion 53, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5. Grooves and recesses are located within the handle to'house the operating interior parts thereof. Groove 54 of the moulded portion 53 houses spring 55 and plunger 56, as best seen in Figures 1,2, 3 and 5. One end of the spring 55 is urged against the moulded portion 53 and the other end is urged against its support in the plunger 56 to thereby continuously bias the plunger in a downward direction.- As will hereinafter be more fully explained, the extension plunger56 will engage the flat surface of the operating arm 25 when the enclosure door 53 is closed. That is, when the enclosure door 52 is closed, the plunger 56 will be urged against the action of its biasing spring 55 to thereby remove it from a groove 73 in the escutcheon plate 68, as herein- 1 moulded handle 53. A latch retainer pin 59 is imbedded in the moulded material at 54 and has an opening 60 as best seen in Figure 5. The opening 60 surrounds the extension car 61 of the latch plate 57 to thereby guide its movement and insure that it will be properly retained within the moulding 53.

. The-latch plate 57 is ,provided'with an. opening 62 to The left hand of the bias spring 63 is lodged against a step portion 64 of the moulding 53 and the right end thereof is lodged against the surface of the latch plate 57.

In the position shown in Figure. l, the biasing spring 63"is in a compressed position and is tending'to urge the latch plate 57 to the right as shown in Figure 3. A latch actuated cam follower 65 is located in the groove 58 :of. the moulded portion 53 and disposed below the latch 57 as best seen in Figures '1, 2 and 3. A spring 66 is lodged between the latch 57 and the latch actuated cam follower 65 to bias this latter means forward. The lower surface of the follower 65 has a notch or groove cut therein to thereby form two cam following surfaces, namely the surface 67 to ride the inside diameter of the escutcheon plate 68 and the rear surface 69 to be cammed by the outside diameter of the escutcheon 'plate 68.

j The configuration of the escutcheon plate 681is best seen in Figure 5a. The plate is provided with attachment holes 69 so that it can be secured to the outer-surface. of the enclosure door 54. The moulded portion 53 with the interior operating mechanism heretofore described is then placed over the escutcheon plate and the entire mechanism is held' in place by means of a retaining plate 70, as best seen in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10b.

The operating handle has four positions, an on, a trip, off anda reset position, as noted by the markings onthe escutcheon plate 68 of Figure 5a.

When the enclosure door 52 is in the open position, the plunger 56 will be biased to the extreme position by the biasing spring 55. In this position, the portion 72 of the p1unger'56 will move downward through the opening 71 of the escutcheon plate 68 and engage the retaining plate 70.

- Thus, in this position, the movement of the operating handle 51 will be restricted due to the insides of groove 71 engaging the edges of the plunger 56. This construction is provided so that the reclosing of the door 52 will insure that the handle 51 is in the proper position to Mame receive the extensionZQ of the operating arm 8. Thus,

Hence; the biasing spring 63 will urge the latch member 57 and its associated follower 65 to their extreme right position, as shown 'in Figure 3.

YVh'ehth enclosure door 52 is closed, the plunger 56 will engage'the fiatsurface of the opera'ting'arm' 25' and thereby" be urged against'the biasing spring 55 and thus reinofve its portion 72 from the 'restric'tion'grooveffl of the esciltcheon plate 68.

Also, the closing'of the door 52 will position the groove .74 of the'r'n'oulding 53 around the extension 29 of operating arm 25 so that the opening 30 is located opposite the ear 31 of the latch member 57. Ashere'toforehoted, the removal of the plunger 56 from the groove 71 of'the' 'escutcheon 68 will permit the handle to be rotated to the on position. As the handle is rotated in this clockwise direction, the cam surface 67 of the latch actuated cam follower 65 will engage the smaller diameter 74 of the escntcheon plate 68. This operation will cam the follower 65'for'ward and thereby urge the latch member 57 forward against the action of its biasing spring 63. As best seen in Figure 1, this operation will permit the car 31 of the latch plate 57 to engage the opening 30 of the adapter operating arm 25. Hence, the rotating handle 51 will be latched to the adapter means and will be able to impart motion thereto.

As the moulding 53 is rotated toward the on position, the surface 67 of the follower plate 65 will always ride on the small inside diameter 74 of the escutcheon plate to insure that the rotating handle is continuously latched to the operating arm 25 of thecircuit breaker adapter means.

It will thus be apparent that the rotational motion of the moulded handle 53 will be imparted to the operating arm 25 and be converted to straight line motion by means of the mechanism heretofore described to thereby control the handle 22 of the circuit breaker 14.

It will be further noted that when the moulded handle 51 is in the on or trip position, the inside diameter of the escutcheon plate 68 will cam the follower 65 and the latch 57 to insure latch engagement between the car 31 of the latch member 57 and the opening 30 of the operating arm 25. Hence, in this position of the moulded handle 53, it will not be possible to open the door 52 due to this latch engagement. However, it will be noted that relative movement between the latch plate 57 and follower 65 is permitted due to the difference in width between portions 94 and 95.

It is possible to defeat the latch by having the operator engage the hook 78 of the latch plate 57 and force it to the right to thereby disengage the car 31 from the operating handle 25 and thus, place the parts in an unlatched position. Hence, when this defeater operation is used, the door 52 may be opened even though the circuit breaker 14 is in the trip or on position. However, it will be noted that to achieve such operation, it is necessary for the operator to actuate the defeater 7 3 and is not a normal operation of the apparatus.

The inside diameter of the escutcheon plate 63 is provided with an additional groove 88. Hence, when the defeater mechanism is used to enable the enclosure door 52 to be opened when the circuit breaker 14 is in the on position, the spring 55 will bias the plunger 56 into the groove 84. If the door 52 is opened when the circuit breaker 14 is in the trip position, rotation of the handle 51 will be restricted due to the position of the plunger 56 within this groove 88. Hence, when the defeater is reclosed, the opening 74 will be properly positioned to re- :6 cane the ex s on 29. o ne ime rm ,5 h s the? .t ftr pfi'pq It wi be f r ot h t he re et n tifie o th ha'ndle'ZZOfthe smau'circuit breaker 14 is not a' ermanent position as' the handle 22 will always be biased froin the ffreset tothe ofi? position. That is,'it ishecessary for theoperatonto continuously exert the' forceon' the circuit'br'eaker handle 22 if it is to he maintained the reset positio it has been found undesirable topermit the door 52 to be opened when the operating handle of the circuit breaker is in the ofi position." That is, if additional means are not provided, due to the unlatching of themta tional handle' sl from the operating arm 25 when the parts are in an off position, ashock force couldeasily open the door 51. undesirable feature is'readily eliminated by providing stop inean s'8ll'on'the enclosure door52. i i The means 89 has an extension arm 32 which extends parallel to the enclosure door 52. When the moulded handleis in'the ,ofi position, the eitteiisio'n'ffzfi of the operating arm 25 will be positioned hehind'the extension 82. Thus, even though the ear 31 of the latch plate 57 is disengaged from the opening 39 of the operating arm of the adapter means, the engagement of theextension 26 with the extension 82 will prevent theenclosure door 52 f ombeing opened. i

However, when the moulded handle is temporarily moved to the reset position, the extension 26 'will'no lohger be opposite the" extension 82 and the'fdoor can be easily opened' It will be noted that the escutcheon plate 68 is provided with a groove 83 in its outer diameter, as best seen in Figure 5a. Thus, when the moulded handle 53 is in the on position, the operator can push the extension 84 forward to the position of Figure 2 to permit a lock 85' to be placed in the groove 85. With the lock 85' to hold the follower plate forward, its cam surface 69 will be latched in the groove $4 to thereby prevent rotational movement of the moulded handle 53 to thereby prevent the operator from rotating the handle to the trip, oil or reset position and also prevent the enclosure door 52 from being opened.

It should be further noted that the moulded handle 53 is provided with a groove 86 in which the bent portion 37 of the escutcheon plate 63 is located. Thus, the limit of the rotational movement of the moulded handle 53 is governed by the arc length of the groove 86 due to the engagement with the bent member 37 with the limits of the groove 86.

In the foregoing, I have described my invention only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modhications of the principles of my invention within the scope of the description herein are obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. An adapter for a circuit breaker to convert rotational movement of an operating handle to straight line motion or" the circuit breaker handle comprising a support bracket, an operating arm and an operating plate, said support bracket being rigidly secured to said circuit breaker, said operating arm being pivotally mounted to said support bracket, said operating plate rotatably mounted on said operating arm and having its motion governed and limited to substantially linear motion by said support bracket and said circuit breaker, said operating plate having an opening therein to receive said circuit breaker handle.

2. An adapter for a circuit breaker to convert rotational movement of an operating handle to straight line motion of the circuit breaker handle comprising a support bracket, an operating arm and an operating plate, said support bracket being rigidly secured to said circuit breaker, said 7 r operating arm being pivotally'mounted to said support bracket and having a bell crank section with a perpendicular extension extending therefrom, said perpendicularextension having an opening therein to be engaged by latch means of said operating handle, said operating plate rotatably mounted on said operating arm and having its motion governed and limited to substantially linear motion by said support bracket and said circuit breaker, said "operating plate having an opening therein to receive said circuit breaker handle.

39in a circuit breaker enclosure, a circuit breaker, adapter means and an operating handle, said circuit breaker comprising a handle with straight line motion,

said enclosure means comprising a housing and an enclosure door, said circuit breaker mounted in said housing, said operating handle mounted on said door, said adapter means connecting said operating handle to said circuit breaker handle when said enclosure door is in the closed position, said adapter converting rotational r niovementiof said operating handle to straight line motion of said circuit breaker handle and comprising a support bracket, an operating arm and an operating plate, said support bracket being rigidly secured to said circuit breaker, said operating arm being pivotally mounted to said support bracket and having a bell crank section with a perpendicular extension extending therefrom, said perpendicular extension having an opening therein to be engaged by latch means of said operating handle, said operating plate rotatably mounted on said operating arm and having its motion governed and limited to substantially linear motion by said support bracket and said circuit breaker.

tion of said circuit breaker handle and comprising a support bracket, an operating arm and an operating plate, said support bracket being rigidly secured to said circuit breaker, said operating arm being pivotally mounted to said support bracket and having a bell crank section with a perpendicular extension extending therefrom,

said perpendicular extension having an opening therein to be engaged by latch means of said operating handle, said operating plate rotatably mounted on said operating arm and having its motion governed and limited to substantially linear motion by said support bracket and said circuit breaker, said operating plate having an opening therein to receive said circuit breaker handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rowe Oct. 1, 1940 Bissell May 6, 1941 2,260,073v Ellis' Oct.2l, 1941 i 

